READ THE CITIZENS' VOICE

Digital Only Subscription
Read the digital e-Edition of The Citizens' Voice on your PC or mobile device, and have 24/7 access to breaking news, local sports, contests, and more at citizensvoice.com or on our mobile apps.

Digital Services
Have news alerts sent to your mobile device or email, read the e-Edition, sign up for daily newsletters, enter contests, take quizzes, download our mobile apps and see the latest e-circulars.

This year was supposed to be the end of Kaylee Kishbaugh's soccer career. At age 14, Kishbaugh was too old to continue in the soccer organization she grew up playing in, and without a team at Northwest Area, the freshman - reluctantly - was preparing to say farewell to her favorite sport.

Just a few weeks ago, however, Kishbaugh was offered a chance to revive her soccer dreams and play at the high school level.

Thanks to an agreement between the Northwest Area and Lake-Lehman school districts, Kishbaugh and five other interested Northwest athletes were granted permission to play on Lake-Lehman's team.

"We started to get the ball rolling this past summer," Lehman coach Kelly Adamshick said of extending the offer to join Lehman's squad to Northwest students. "I contacted the girls and then their athletic director (Galen Miller) contacted me and said it was a go. We're so happy to have them with us."

Joining Kishbaugh on the daily trek to Lehman Township for soccer practice or games are Kendyl Maclean, Reily Andrews, Christine Rupp, Charity Marvin and Ashley Brubaker.

Northwest Area is a neighboring school district to Lake-Lehman, but the distance of travel for some of the girls is nearly 40 minutes and much of the travel is on rural roads.

"One of our main concerns was the traveling," Adamshick said. "They don't have provided transportation, so we have to rely on their parents, who have been awesome with everything. I don't think any one of them has missed a practice."

Prior to a recent game, the Lehman squad gathered as a team before filing into the stadium. Clad in their Black Knights uniforms, the Northwest girls interacted with their Lehman teammates, showing there is no divide. Adamshick said the Northwest girls were an instant fit, while the Northwest girls say they couldn't have been given a more gracious welcome.

"Our girls were actually really excited when I told them these girls were on board with us," Adamshick said. "I don't think, in the past four years, that we've had enough players to have a full-field scrimmage and now we have enough to play 11 on 11. But honestly, we don't look at it as a Lehman/Northwest thing. We're one team."

Lehman entered the inaugural fall season after coming off a successful spring outing where it finished as the Division 2 champion for the second straight year. The Black Knights concluded the spring season at 10-3 and a trip to the District 2 semifinals.

Hit hard by graduation, Adamshick did not have much time to fill crucial positions, such as goalkeeper, but she considers herself lucky that two players stepped forward as potential goalies shortly before the start of the season. Kishbaugh was one of the goalie candidates, while Lehman senior Amelia Jenkins joined the team for the first time in the same week as the students from Northwest, and also showed interest in goal. Kishbaugh and Jenkins are splitting time in net and have been positive contributors as well as a true example of the bond that has formed between the Northwest and Lehman girls.

"I joined the team the same time they joined, so I was in the same boat, being a new player and all," said Jenkins, who attends cyber school. "The Lehman girls welcomed us all right away. We're all here for the same reason and striving for the same goals and this is a great opportunity to grow as teammates, and friends, on and off the field.

I think it's great that we have two keepers. Kaylee is a great goalie and I think we push each other in practice and it's nice to have someone to learn from and get better with."

As a senior and four-year member of the team, Katie Heindel had no reservations upon hearing the Lehman team was sharing their program with Northwest. Heindel and Jenkins also run cross country for Lehman and each understand the importance of the dedication and sacrifices that need to be made in order for a team to click.

"We've always been a tight team, but it didn't take much time at all for the girls from Northwest to fit in," Heindel said. "They are new talent for this team and they all came in with crazy, fun personalities. They are a lot of fun to be around."

The Black Knights are 3-2 and seeing positive results from the Northwest players. Besides Kishbaugh seeing time in goal, defender Maclean helps out Heindel, Kaylee Hillard and Emily Sutton play in the midfield, which Adamshick points to as one of the team's strengths.

The season is young, but Lehman is hoping to finish near the top of the division, which includes all teams in the league, instead of divided divisions in the past.

How far Lehman can take its season this year remains to be seen, but the impact the Black Knights have made on their new teammates already makes the 2012 season a complete success.

"I'm so grateful for this opportunity because I'm hoping that I can possibly take this somewhere," Kishbaugh said. "I'm trying to represent Northwest the best I can and at the same time I'm playing my hardest for Lake-Lehman and I'm thrilled to be doing it."

jsnowdon@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2060

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.